About Us – Quinta das Netas

Our Farm, Community & Wildlife

We are passionate about the Douro Valley, its people, wildlife and biodiversity. More importantly it is our responsibility to preserve the region for generations to come.

How We Farm

Douro farmers love their olive trees because they produce life-enhancing olive oil, provide valuable shade, secure the soil that might otherwise erode, and they do not steal too much scarce water from the vines. And finally the excess wood from the tree is the best for keeping a warm fire going in the cold winter months.

Quinta das Netas is located between 380 and 570 meters above sea level, so the olive trees benefit from cool nights, even in the hot Douro summers. This significantly enhances the flavours of our olive oil.

The Symington family have been making Port and wine in the Douro valley since the 19th century. Their ancestors were Scottish, English, Irish and Portuguese. Today the younger members of the 6th generation run wild through the vineyards and olive groves at Netas.

Paul and Jane Symington are the owners of Quinta das Netas. Paul was born in Oporto, Portugal in 1953 and Jane in Sussex, England. Their four children grew up at Netas and spend much of their time at the Quinta. Their daughter, Louisa, has set up this business alongside Paul to help share what their farm has to offer.

Community

Quinta das Netas is located near the historic Douro mountain village of Provesende, one of the most beautiful in the region. Almost its entire population is connected to the land and to the care of vineyards – it has been this way for centuries. For many years, Jane Symington, part owner of Netas, has managed a handicraft shop in Provesende that has helped to attract tourists to this lovely spot.

Although small, Provesende has a vibrant and effective volunteer fire service that serves the surrounding communities. The Symington family of Netas are dedicated supporters of these emergency services.

Wildlife & Biodiversity

Quinta das Netas is a 46 hectare (114 acre) Quinta in the Alto Douro valley of northern Portugal. There is 33 hectares of vineyard and 4 acres of olive groves, but with many more olive trees around the vineyards.

The remaining 9 hectares consists of indigenous scrub, pine and cork-oaks. This is home to much wildlife: wild boar (who routinely dig up the lawn), fox, rabbits, badgers, giant toads and the occasional genet amongst many other animals. In recent years a few red squirrels have appeared.

There are a multitude of wonderful birds from the magnificent Booted Eagle and Hobby Falcon to the elusive Golden Oriel and the exotic Hoopoes that visit the Quinta in the spring. Bee-eaters dart across the skies all summer long and in the winter the call of the red-leg partridge echoes across the valley.

The Quinta’s beehives produce wonderful honey, flavoured by the wild lavender and Esteva (Rock Rose – the flower symbol of the Douro) with its pungent aromas.

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BY SUPPORTING US YOU'RE SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS

Every harvest, local farmers come to Quintas das Netas to pick our 2,021 trees. With more independent businesses like ours, the community gets stronger as we work together.